The Conversation

Tracing delicate ovals
on her inner thigh, each one

a bit longer, deeper, smoother,
closer, as he listened,

her words meaning less,
the conversation begins.

Division

I'm not
big on division;
long division,
subdivisions,
labor/management,
cube farms,
battle of the sexes,
racially motivated,
emotionally charged,
name calling -
I don't think
that way.

When I have
to pull out the
calculator, figure
out parameters,
formulas, square
roots, metric
measures,
us and them,
you and me --

I always get lost.

Wisp of a Girl

Wisp of a girl,
sunlight 'cross her face
hides uncertainty;

should she smile,

is it okay,

is this something
she can call her own?

New experiences
with semi-strangers,
creeping towards friendship,
although never true kin.

She agrees
to almost anything,
and knows next
to nothing of the simple things

we take for granted,

the little things
that come with love.

Wisp of a girl
laughing with pleasure,
almost self-conscious
of her own joy,

sometimes she forgets
and just smiles,

delighted and six,
without a care in the world.

The Wind is a Wanton Wolf Tonight

The wind is a wanton wolf tonight,
giving its quarry no quarter
to run, nor hide.

A glistening muzzle takes hold,
bloodlust in its grip; the prey
icebound, unable to stir. 

Fireflies Still Alight in My Dreams

I offer no claims
to heroism or sainthood,
nor do I protest.

I know in this age old story
that where there is Satan,
there must also be saints.

There were no martyrs 
in the hard fought skirmish; 
no victors in this drawn-out tale.

Hearts and corpses
strewn to the side,
the hemorrhage not yet complete. 

Was it full blown conflagration,
or just fireflies still alight in my dreams?

Winter's Chill

I remember a place
within my own heart

Remember it well
within your heart too

Sleeping late
sleeping close

Contentment
before winter’s chill
found its way in

and sent us looking
for warmth
in places once
unknown.

Miss Sophie Catches Bugs

Miss Sophie
catches bugs, raptor style,
on a murky May
afternoon.

Perched on 
the porch, body erect;
her tiny jaw continuously
snaps, easily catching
her prey.